Open Forum Friday: Fix the WTA Tour
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Feb 16, 2007 | Print | Email | Bookmark | Free Subscription
We’ve been holding Open Forum Fridays off and on since the end of the 2006 season, and although they have been popular, I want to try out a new feature.
I will still do the regular Q&A posts, but only two weeks out of the month. In between the traditional format, I’m going to throw out a question on the other Fridays and let you give the answers. I may weigh in with my opinion in the comments - or use it as a springboard for another post - but I really want to give each of you an opportunity to state your opinions.
To kick off this new feature, how about taking a stab at this question:
I know this is a very broad question that covers so many areas, including ranking points, rules, player requirements, tournament structure, etc, but I’m sure that each of you has some great ideas to share.
Lurkers out there, this is a great chance to join the conversation!
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Brant | Feb 16, 2007 | Reply
I think the US holds far too many tournaments. I think the US claycourt season should be substituted for tournies in other countries.
Also I think the grass court season should be longer while the amount of claycourt tournaments are shortened. I think claycourt players (although there are not a whole lot of souly clay court players… unlike the mens tour) get far too many tournaments. I think this creates an uneven ranking system.
Haha… I feel guilty for writing the first one….
Aaress | Feb 16, 2007 | Reply
I agree - it would be great to see a longer grass court season. Of course, this bring up one of the bigger problems with not just the WTA, but the ITF.
Roland Garros and Wimbledon are way too close together, and nothing short of a complete calendar restructure can solve the issue.
Chris | Feb 17, 2007 | Reply
Move Australian Open to later in the year. Lengthen distance between RG and Wimbledon. Lengthen grass season, shorten clay season. Add a carpet slam somewhere. Get rid of on-court coaching. Arrange traveling between lower and upper tier tournaments more logical, IE don’t make a top 10 player go to Paris for the Gaz then leave for Antwerp then leave for America then go to Berlin then go back to Paris. Advertise and sell more tennis in America regardless of what country the player is from, or just promote tournaments more.
So many complaints.
mjgrace22 | Feb 17, 2007 | Reply
Hmmm… This is a nice addition to your website… Kudos!:)
I agree with the previous posters that the grass season should be lengthen and that the dates of the French Open and Wimbledon are too close. But I still think that the Australian Open should stay in January. You’d probably ask why. My answer is simple. As the Aussie Open is too early in the season, we are able to see who really hit the gym and worked it out on the courts during the off season. I think that the Aussie Open is a real gage of how much the players worked to prepare for the new season.
I also think that the quality points in the rankings should be brought back. It’s also a good measure of the quality of players that one beats to attain a certain ranking.
The asian tour at the start of the year(Tokyo Toray, Pattaya, Bangalore) and at the end of the year(Tokyo, Beijing, Bali, Guangzhou, etc.) should be merged into one season. It would be easier for the players plus the marketing would be better. Why not make the Asian tour after the US Open and probably make it the road to Year-end championships? And make this asian tour’s and the YEC’s surface be carpet? I think it would be nice.
Also, I really think that the ATP and WTA year-end championships should be put together. Only then would we really have a REAL TENNIS MASTERS CUP. The best of the best in both men’s and women’s tennis.
Brant | Feb 17, 2007 | Reply
Totally agree with everything you just said, mjgrace22.
I think having the YEC’s on carpet would be great!
I also think the Aussie Open needs to stay in January, because of the fact that it is in school holidays over here. If it were to be moved to later, ticket sales would drop dramatically!
Stewpot | Feb 18, 2007 | Reply
just a question, are injuries suffered by the players greater on one surface than another? If so, then this should factor into the season.
WilliamsFan | Feb 18, 2007 | Reply
Can we add a smile to Justine Henin’s repetoire???
Aaress | Feb 19, 2007 | Reply
Hi Stewpot,
The level of risk of injuring yourself on any surface is high, but overall, most people tend to agree that clay is the most difficult -and dangerous - surface to play on.
The ball moves much slower, which requires longer rallies, and forces the players into more physically grueling matches. If the clay court season was not hard enough, the calendar only allows for two weeks to transition from clay to grass at Wimbledon.
mjgrace22,
I love the idea of an Asian tour leading into the YEC. The model of a “roadtrip” like the US Open series was very successful in the United States and if the Tour could copy that structure for the final tournaments of the year, we may see fan participation improve.
As it stands, only the most loyal of fans follow tennis after the US Open.